Checkout fee??

Daisy_bee

Hi everyone

Just handed in my notice on my rental property only to be told there is a checkout fee of £60 that will be deducted from my deposit!

Is this legal as I thought I had to agree to any deductions being made (or go to arbitration)? Also I don't see this fee anywhere in my contract and was unaware of it until now.


Any help/ experiences much appreciated

BitterAndTwisted

If it's not in your contract and no mention has been made of it until now, just dispute the deduction from your deposit when they propose it. As I am sure you are aware, if you raise it with them now before you leave you open up the possibility of them being utterly unreasonable and ruthless with the check-out inspection.

Was there a dual-signed and dated check-in inventory when your tenancy started?

toastking

It's generally something that people miss from their contracts and so it might just be a case of looking a little harder for it or getting a second pair of eyes.

I wouldn't take this personally but most people (inc. me) will have probably gone up in arms about a similar fee only to find out that it was mentioned on some of the paperwork.

Have you read the full tenancy agreement? If you don't have it to hand ask for a signed/initialled page that shows the charge.

Daisy_bee

Definitely no inventory, will check my rental agreement again tonight but I'm 90% sure it doesn't mention a check out fee . My last rental agreement was signed and initially but expired about 18 months ago and I'm now on a rolling contract.

Vectis

It's quite normal, especially where there's an agency involved. It's usually in the agreement you signed, even if the exact fee isn't stipulated (some tenants might be in situ for a decade or more and the fee could have gone up considerably in the meantime, hence the fee wouldn't be stipulated in the agreement).

Daisy_bee

Must be a new thing as have never had to pay this fee before, I can understand a fee if in the agreement but if it's not then surely this fee is unfair? I except your point about costs rising however if an amount is not stated then the LA can charge whatever they like.

G_M

Daisy_bee wrote: »

Definitely no inventory, will check my rental agreement again tonight but I'm 90% sure it doesn't mention a check out fee . My last rental agreement was signed and initially but expired about 18 months ago and I'm now on a rolling contract.

This makes no difference. Your current 'rolling contract' (SPT) is based on the same terms as the original contract.

It's usually in the agreement you signed, even if the exact fee isn't stipulated (some tenants might be in situ for a decade or more and the fee could have gone up considerably in the meantime, hence the fee wouldn't be stipulated in the agreement).

If the amount is not stipulated, it cannot be charged. The LL/agent cannot arbitrarily set the amount when the tenancy ends. If it was set a decade ago and the LL/agent wished to increase it, he/they should have proposed the new amount and gained the tenant's acceptance. They cannot pluck a figure out of the air.

BitterAndTwisted

If there was no dual-signed and dated check-in inventory then there will be nothing for the agent to do on check-out, will there?

They have nothing to substantiate any deductions from your deposit as they will have no documentary evidence of the condition of the property at the start of your tenancy.

They're just making stuff up as they go along, I reckon.